Crapemyrtle plant named &#39;gamad v&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of crapemyrtle,  Lagerstroemia  L., which is characterized by compact, mounded, true genetic dwarf growth habit; early flowering (late June-July in Athens, Ga.); extremely floriferous with bubble gum pink flowers, high mildew resistance.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Lagerstroemia L.

VARIETAL DENOMINCATION

crapemyrtle GAMAD V

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of theornamental flowering shrub Lagerstroemia L., commonly known ascrapemyrtle, and hereafter referred to by the varietal denomination‘Gamad V’.

The new crapemyrtle was selected from approximately 1,000 seedlingsgrown from seed collected in 1997 from a collection of dwarfcrapemyrtles growing in Athens, Ga., provided by the United StatesNational Arboretum (USDA). The inventor was granted permission by Dr.Margaret Pooler, Research Geneticist at USDA, to utilize the germplasmto develop new dwarf cultivars. The specific parents of these seedlingsare unknown. ‘Gamad V’ was selected in the summer of 1998 by theinventor as a compact plant, with good mildew resistance and withabundant pink flowers at the Center for Applied Nursery Research,Dearing, Ga.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar ‘Gamad V’ have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as light-intensity, temperature andcultural conditions, however, without any variance in genotype.

The following characteristics have been consistently observed and, tothe best knowledge of the inventor, their combination form the uniquecharacteristics of ‘Gamad V’ as a new and distinct cultivar.

-   -   1. Compact, mounded true genetic dwarf habit.    -   2. High leaf mildew resistance.    -   3. Early flowering in late June-July.    -   4. Abundant pink flowers that literally shroud the foliage.

Plants of the new crapemyrtle have been compared to the only pinkflowering dwarf crapemyrtle known to the inventor, ‘Chickasaw’(unpatented).

Comparative evaluations in containers and in the ground at Athens, Ga.showed that ‘Gamad V’ differed from ‘Chickasaw’ in the followingcharacteristics:

1. Plants of ‘Gamad V’ produced more abundant flowers than ‘Chickasaw’.

2. The flowers of ‘Gamad V’ open fully, compared to flowers of‘Chickasaw’ which do not fully open.

3. Plants of ‘Gamad V’ flowered earlier than ‘Chickasaw’.

4. Plant of ‘Gamad V’ maintained a dwarf habit and did not have theirregular habit of ‘Chickasaw’ which often produces reversion shoots.

5. Plant of ‘Gamad V’ were more resistant to mildew than ‘Chickasaw’.

Asexual reproduction via tissue culture and by traditional vegetativecuttings since the summer of 1998 has shown that the uniquecharacteristics of this new crapemyrtle are stable and reproducedtrue-to-type in successive generations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the uniquecharacteristics of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ from the color values listed in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new crapemyrtle.

FIG. 1. A one-year-old plant growing in the ground at Chapel Hill, N.C.The picture was taken in July 2004.

FIG. 2. Flowers of the one-year-old plant, showing the multiple long andshort stamens.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The botanical description of ‘Gamad V’ is based on three-year-oldplants, growing in 22 liter containers in an outside nursery researchfacility in Athens, Ga. (USDA Zone 7b) under conditions which closelyapproximate commercial production. Measurements are based on the averageof 10 to 20 samples, and were taken throughout the main growth period,from March through September in Athens, Ga. Colors are based on TheRoyal Horticultural Society Chart, 1995 edition.

The plant has a compact, broad-rounded growth habit with medium textureof branching, attaining an average height of 61 cm and width of 101 cm.

First year stems are square with wings, 1.0 mm across, with averageinternode length of 7.7 mm. They are Greyed-Orange 164A in color,without exfoliation.

Second year stems are oval, without wings, and are 1.5 mm across. Thecolor is Greyed-Orange 177B, exfoliating to Greyed-White 156A.

Mature stems are up to 1.5 cm in diameter, exfoliating and Greyed-White156A in color.

The vegetative buds are opposite to sub-opposite on all years growth,imbricate and conical in shape, 1 mm in length and 1 mm in width, withno pubescence, and the bud scales are Grey-Orange 176A in color.

The mature leaf, measured in the middle section of first year stems,averages 42 mm in length and 21 mm in width.

The leaf is elliptical, with an acuminate apex, cuneate base and entire,undulating margin. The emerging leaf (April in Athens, Ga.) isYellow-Green N 146A on upper and Yellow-Green 146B on the lower surface,and both surfaces have a margin of Greyed-Purple 183A. In summer(August), the upper surface is Yellow-Green 147A and the lower surfaceis Green 137C.

The leaves are arranged opposite to sub-opposite on the stem, 0.5 mmthick with very shiny upper and semi-shiny lower surfaces. The venationis pinnate and the vein color is Green 138C. The petiole is 2 mm inlength and 2 mm in diameter, with fine pubescence and Yellow-Green 146Bin color.

The flower buds are 5 mm in length and 5 mm in width, rounded in shapewith no pubescence, and are Yellow-Green 144C maturing to Greyed-Red181B in color.

The flowering period is from late June to September in Athens, Ga.

The inflorescence averages 12.7 cm in length and 9.7 cm in width, and aplant in a 11.8 liter container carries 30-40 inflorescences. The colorat emergence is Purple 76A, Red-Purple 73 in full bloom, fading toViolet 84B. There are 25-35 flowers per inflorescence. The individualflower averages 29.5 mm by 29.5 mm.

There are 6 petals per flower which average 10 mm in length and 9 mm inwidth, are fan-shaped with a ruffled, rounded apex, sagittate base andruffled margin. There is no pubescence. The petal stalk averages 4.6 mmin length and is Red-Purple 73D at peak bloom, fading to Purple N 78D.

The calyx is Yellow-Green 145C inside and Greyed-Orange 173B toYellow-Green 145A outside.

The pedicels are 7 mm long, with no pubescence and are Greyed-Orange177A in color.

There is an average of 35 stamens in a cluster, with about 30 shortstamens in the center and 5-6 longer stamens around the outside. Theanthers are Yellow 13 A aging to Yellow-Orange 21B in color. Thefilaments average 8.6 mm in length and are Yellow 4D in color.

The style is 1.3 cm in length, Greyed-Yellow 160 B in color. The stigmais Yellow-Green 148A in color. There is a single ovary, 2 mm indiameter, with no pubescence, and Greyed-Yellow 160A in color.

The mature fruit is a six-valved dehiscent, broad ellipsoidal capsule,measuring 6 to 8 mm in length and 6 to 8 mm in width, prior todehiscence. The color is Brown 200A. There are multiple seeds percapsule, averaging 6 mm long, and 3 mm wide, with a membranous wing. Thecolor of the seed is Brown 200A, and the wing is Grey-Brown 199D.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of crapemyrtle plant named ‘Gamad V’,substantially as illustrated and described.